Card for Crysis

[NotAGolf]

I'm just about to buy an 8800GT, either the BFG @ 625/1800, the EVGA @ 650/1900 or the Zotac @ 700/2000. Mainly so I can play Crysis, but also the other new releases like Need for Speed and Call of Duty.

But now there's a couple of things which are making me think I shouldn't hit the buy button:

1. They're all listed as pre-order and I don't want to wait much longer, any ideas when they'll be in stock?

2. I've read some posts on here about the heat these are producing, so I'm worried about buying one of these pre-clocked models. I don't want to fiddle about putting new fans on.

3. How will they actually perform on Crysis, usually I buy top of the range models but right now I cant afford it so will I be missing out on much by going for a GT rather than a GTX (I only play at 1440x900 btw, the rest of my spec is in sig)

Thanks for any advice/opinions as to what to do/buy.

 

[furnace]

Get a BFG or an EVGA - they have excellent warranties. EVGA's support is in Germany though. BFG have a UK (Wales) centre.

1. No idea
2. Don't listen to that - if it breaks, and it's under warranty (hence recommending EVGA or BFG), they will fix it. The newer ones come with better coolers (larger fans) anyway. If your card doesn't run at its specified settings then it's RMA time - not cooler-buying time! If you are going to get a cooler for it later though, make sure you buy EVGA. They don't void warranties just 'cos you replaced the cooler.
3. 8800GT SSC runs nicely on High settings Haven't tried using the DX9 "Very High" hack yet, though. Can't give you exact frame rates as I haven't monitored them, but this is at 1440x900, and I haven't once noticed lag.

NB; this is on my girlfriends PC, not mine, but I've spent lots of time on her 'puter. I built it so I deserve to have lots of playtime on it

 

[redballoon]

3. How will they actually perform on Crysis, usually I buy top of the range models but right now I cant afford it so will I be missing out on much by going for a GT rather than a GTX (I only play at 1440x900 btw, the rest of my spec is in sig)

Should be fine for Crysis at 1440x900 on high settings, at least in XP. Crysis was noticeably worse in Vista 64 even at 720p with my 8800GT.

 

[furnace]

My 7600GT (XP) appears to perform equally or even out-perform my girlfriends brothers 8600GT Mobile (Vista). I thought that was due to Dell's bloatware but maybe it's just Vista?

 

[Darkwave]

Hi mpledge52. In all honesty I'd just buy the cheapest 8800GT that you can find in stock, they're all pretty much the same and all overclock well enough anyway. I wouldn't worry about playing the latest games on it, even Crysis will run very reasonably on all high as long as you don't try to slap on oodles of AA (video memory limit.)

 

[NotAGolf]

Thanks for the replies peeps, much appreciated.

Ulfhedjinn - as you're saying that getting any of them should be fine, does that mean the speeds of them isn't really important in anything other than benchmarks? (or at least not that noticeable)

And lastly, is there any don or some kind of enquiry system where I can ask about stock level and expected ETA's or anything like that?

Thanks again.

 

[SS-89]

Thanks for the replies peeps, much appreciated.

Ulfhedjinn - as you're saying that getting any of them should be fine, does that mean the speeds of them isn't really important in anything other than benchmarks? (or at least not that noticeable)

And lastly, is there any don or some kind of enquiry system where I can ask about stock level and expected ETA's or anything like that?

Thanks again.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/webnote.php

 

[NotAGolf]

Thanks SS-89, they replied this morning saying they don't have an ETA for any of those cards, so being the impatient kind I am, I'm looking at the ones that are in stock; the Leadtek, Gainward and Gigabyte. They are all at the stock speed of 600/1800, which is quite a lot lower than my original 3. How much of the difference will this make? I dont really want to overclock unless it's absolutely necessary, especially after hearing some of the reports of the high temperatures at stock.

Also, why is there such a wide gap in price considering they're at the same speeds?

 

[furnace]

An OC'd edition from a good brand is really worth waiting for if you want every last FPS from Crysis... maybe consider the BFG GeForce 8800 GTS OC 512MB @£240?

 

[NotAGolf]

An OC'd edition from a good brand is really worth waiting for if you want every last FPS from Crysis... maybe consider the BFG GeForce 8800 GTS OC 512MB @£240?

My budget can quite stretch to that i'm afraid furnace, i'm looking for sub £200, the only GTS I could afford is the OcUK 320MB and 640MB but the speeds are a fair bit smaller than the GT's so I didn't really consider them tbh.

 

[Hen_Dawg]

Warrantys aside you'll find little/zero difference between models except in clock speeds.

Many people argue you can generally OC a stock card to same levels of a pre-clocked with ease but an extra £20 will guarantee the OC for your piece of mind.
Personally I just buy stock

 

[Darkwave]

Ulfhedjinn - as you're saying that getting any of them should be fine, does that mean the speeds of them isn't really important in anything other than benchmarks? (or at least not that noticeable)

Pretty much, you'll probably see 1-2fps difference with an overclock lol.

 

[Demo]

I have a stock Leadtek running happily at 750/1650/1000 (2K). I did change the stock cooler to an Accelero S1 though. It feels like it will do more but I don't need to push it as I don't play Crysis ( ) and it copes with COD4 just fine as it is.